AVON – Theresa Eichers went from running a salon to pasteurizing goat cheese.

On paper, the career change seems a bit peculiar, but the longtime owner of Sensational Styles and Spa has reached a dream come true in her adventures at Eichers Hobby Farm in Avon.

"We grew up with goats — we were breast fed for nine months and then were raised on goat milk ever since that," said Eichers, who grew up on a St. Martin farm. "I've wanted goats all my life. My husband finally allowed me to have some in 2011."

Eichers makes nine different varieties of goat cheese.

She also sells goat meat, lotions and soaps.

Eichers sells at various Central Minnesota meat markets, bakeries and grocery stores. She has stands at the Sartell, Avon, St. Joseph and Sauk Rapids farmers markets. Her cheese is featured at Jules' Bistro in St. Cloud.

And her cheese will be available at Good Earth Food Co-Op in St. Cloud starting Aug. 3.

"A lot of this started with just playing around in the kitchen," Eichers said.

But getting people to even try goat cheese can be a challenge.

"They all assume it tastes like stinky feet," Eichers said. "Sometimes people will walk by me, and they'll ignore me because they think I'll ask them to try it."

Eichers offers free samples on crackers at her farmers market stands.

"As soon as they put it in their mouth, I hear, 'Oh, that's pretty good' — I often get that response," Eichers said. "My dad always said, 'Try it, swish it around your mouth, and then if it's bad, you can spit it out."

Eichers sold her salon in January to fully focus on the farm.

She's built a barn, a licensed commercial kitchen and a state-regulated cheese processing room. She had her labels professionally made — compliant with each of the 326 state regulations.

And while she said she sometimes misses the duties at the salon, her life on the farm is something she can't pass up.

"I love my goats," Eichers said. "After I did my chores (last Tuesday), I sat around and played with them for an hour. They got their toes trimmed — it was just like giving pedicures at the salon."